Real time ridesharing: Understanding user behavior and policies impact: Carpooling service case study in Lazio Region, Italy

Abstract

Among several ridesharing models, real-time carpooling is a significant innovation in the sector of sharing mobility. Indeed, it overcomes the traditional carpooling model thanks to a technology which enables customers to significantly decrease matching times and furthermore, it is fully integrated with public transport. None the less, it gives the opportunity to users to previously check the rating of possible passengers and drivers. First of all, the study sets the real time carpooling service within the broad ridesharing category highlighting peculiarities in light of international experiences and recent normative developments. In addition, results, obtained by a survey in collaboration with Moovit Inc. within Lazio (Italian region) about the new service Moovit Carpool activated in September 2016, have been discussed. Data have shown different aspects which characterize the potential demand of the service. Particularly, it has been displayed that, the familiarity of users with the service is crucial for choice dynamics in other words, to consider the service a valiant alternative for systematic transfers. The proposed behavioral discrete choice model shows in detail this correlation. Furthermore, the model gives values about important behavioral parameters such as, the usefulness of the service and the interaction comfort. Finally, in order to promote a modern regulation and valorization of the sector, directions of intervention have been suggested.